So there I was this morning at the start of the Cougar Mountain Hillclimb, a free timetrial put on by Joel Blatt in support of Cimb4Cancer. The climb is only a couple of miles from my home and is a notorious local pain inducing climb. It is a steady steep gut wrenching ride that goes for just about two miles and passes the Cougar Mountain Zoo. Locally it is known as the zoo climb. I used to ride it a lot, but have cut back this year, mainly due to the weather.
Anyway, as I signed in I was asked about the kit and got to spread the word again about the team and company. Someone said they had seen another rider in the kit and I only knew of one other in the area, a friend who rides for the local team called Double Digit. He has purchased a couple of our kits as extra training gear. As I lined up (I was 4th to go out of about 180), I saw a stranger in the knew red bib shorts. I had never seen him before. He had some other white jersey. I did yell out a greeting as he rode past.
I definitely was not ready for the race, and due to my lack of training and very hot and muggy conditions I took it pretty easy. We started on a side residential street every 30 secs, and after a quick slightly downhill start we immediately made a sharp left hand turn on to the climb proper. There were no other real turns. There is a severe and oh so steep right hand switchback turn ALMOST halfway up, and I did catch two guys just before the turn. I was almost caught by my 30 sec guy but I beat him to the line. One guy I did pass threw up A LOT after the finish. I knew I had not put that type of effort in. It was a slow time for me but I was happy considering the conditions. It really is a fun and tough climb. I have ridden it in very hot conditions, rain, snow and beautiful fall conditions. I never get tired of it and it is just down the road. I am fortunate in deed.
On another note, the last few weeks have meant SEAFAIR for the Seattle area, an annual summer celebration, capped off by a weekend of Blue Angels performances and hydroplane boat racing (this weekend). The Blue Angels have a practice session on Friday, and I was able to ride to the I-90 floating bridge and Mercer Island on Friday to watch the practice. Amazing!!!!!!! One benefit of riding is the option to go places other than by car. We two wheelers have it so good.
All the best to my teammates.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
PS-Results just came out. I was 54th out of 110, and beat one of my training buddies by 20 secs.
For more info, photos and a graphic course profile (earthquake seismographs usually don't look this bad) go to http://www.climb4cancer.net/
Anyway, as I signed in I was asked about the kit and got to spread the word again about the team and company. Someone said they had seen another rider in the kit and I only knew of one other in the area, a friend who rides for the local team called Double Digit. He has purchased a couple of our kits as extra training gear. As I lined up (I was 4th to go out of about 180), I saw a stranger in the knew red bib shorts. I had never seen him before. He had some other white jersey. I did yell out a greeting as he rode past.
I definitely was not ready for the race, and due to my lack of training and very hot and muggy conditions I took it pretty easy. We started on a side residential street every 30 secs, and after a quick slightly downhill start we immediately made a sharp left hand turn on to the climb proper. There were no other real turns. There is a severe and oh so steep right hand switchback turn ALMOST halfway up, and I did catch two guys just before the turn. I was almost caught by my 30 sec guy but I beat him to the line. One guy I did pass threw up A LOT after the finish. I knew I had not put that type of effort in. It was a slow time for me but I was happy considering the conditions. It really is a fun and tough climb. I have ridden it in very hot conditions, rain, snow and beautiful fall conditions. I never get tired of it and it is just down the road. I am fortunate in deed.
On another note, the last few weeks have meant SEAFAIR for the Seattle area, an annual summer celebration, capped off by a weekend of Blue Angels performances and hydroplane boat racing (this weekend). The Blue Angels have a practice session on Friday, and I was able to ride to the I-90 floating bridge and Mercer Island on Friday to watch the practice. Amazing!!!!!!! One benefit of riding is the option to go places other than by car. We two wheelers have it so good.
All the best to my teammates.
Ty (aka Saddledancer)
PS-Results just came out. I was 54th out of 110, and beat one of my training buddies by 20 secs.
For more info, photos and a graphic course profile (earthquake seismographs usually don't look this bad) go to http://www.climb4cancer.net/
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